Stigmella pseudodigitata Remeikis & Stonis, 2014

Stonis, Jonas R., Remeikis, Andrius & Davis, Donald R., 2014, Ten new species from the Patagonian Andes (Argentina and Chile), mostly belonging to a newly designated Stigmella purpurimaculae group (Lepidoptera: Nepticulidae), Zootaxa 3887 (3), pp. 321-353 : 332

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3887.3.3
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:25338EEF-328B-442A-A44C-7C412D16DDAA
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4952700
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03DB87D0-FFC6-FFB6-02B6-FD4848AEF867
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Stigmella pseudodigitata Remeikis & Stonis
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

10. Stigmella pseudodigitata Remeikis & Stonis View in CoL , sp. nov.

( Figs 30 View FIGURES 23–30 , 81–90 View FIGURES 79–82 View FIGURES 83–90 )

Diagnosis. Despite the uniformly pale grey to brown forewing, a character very common for many Stigmella species , this species posseses unique male genitalia characters: the digitate group of four cornuti in the phallus and the undivided, distally narrowed uncus.

Male ( Fig. 30 View FIGURES 23–30 ). Forewing length 2.7–3.2 mm; wingspan 6.0–7.0 mm. Head: palpi cream-grey; frontal tuft pale orange (usually) to dark greyish brown (occasionally); collar and scape greyish white or cream-white (usually) to cream-grey (occasionally); antenna considerably longer than half the length of forewing; flagellum with 33–35 segments, pale grey to brownish grey on upper side and underside. Thorax, tegulae and forewing uniform, pale grey (usually) to brownish grey (occasionally), with weak or strong golden gloss, without apical spots; terminal and tornal cilia grey to brownish grey; underside of forewing dark grey to brownish grey, without purple iridescence, spots or androconia. Hindwings and their cilia pale grey to brownish grey, without androconia. Legs glossy, cream-grey with darkenings to entirely brownish grey on upper side and underside. Abdomen shiny, grey to dark grey on upper side, grey on underside; anal tufts short, cream to cream-grey or grey; anal plates cream to grey.

Female. Unknown.

Male genitalia ( Figs 81–90 View FIGURES 79–82 View FIGURES 83–90 ). Capsule longer (330–335 µm) than wide (220–225 µm). Vinculum with two triangular (anterior) lobes. Uncus gradually tapering towards distal end ( Figs 81 View FIGURES 79–82 , 83–86, 89, 90 View FIGURES 83–90 ), without lateral lobes. Gnathos with two caudal processes which can slightly vary and merge at bases ( Figs 81 View FIGURES 79–82 , 86, 88 View FIGURES 83–90 ). Valva 175–185 µm long, 75–80 µm broad, with long and curved apical process; inner lobe of valva large and rounded; transtilla usually without sublateral processes ( Figs 87, 90 View FIGURES 83–90 ) or these processes are minute (genitalia slide no. RA516, holotype). Phallus ( Figs 82 View FIGURES 79–82 , 89, 90 View FIGURES 83–90 ) 225–250 µm long, 90–130 µm broad; chitinization of phallus tube is partially reduced on distal 1/5; vesica with one very large, curved cornutus, a “digitate” group of four cornuti (see fig. 82), and more than 100 minute, spine-like cornuti (but never with dentate ones as in the purpurimaculae group). Manica absent.

Bionomics. Adults collected in late September–December and January. Otherwise unknown.

Distribution. It occurs in the Patagonian Andes ( Argentina) at altitudes ca. 250–810 m (see Material).

Type material. Holotype: ♂, ARGENTINA, Río Negro, S. C. de Bariloche, Colonia Suiza, elevation ca. 810 m, 5.xi.1978, Mision Cientifica Danesa, genitalia slide no. RA 516♂ ( ZMUC) . Paratypes: 3 ♂, ARGENTINA, Río Negro, S. C. de Bariloche, Colonia Suiza, elevation ca. 810 m, 13.xi.–24.xii.1978, Mision Cientifica Danesa, genitalia slide nos. RA 361♂, RA 363♂, RA 373♂ ( ZMUC) ; 3 ♂, elevation ca. 800 m, 27.x.–3.xii.1981, Nielsen & Karsholt, genitalia slide nos. RA 355♂, RA390 ( ZMUC) ; 6 ♂, Neuquén, S. M. de los Andes , elevation ca. 640 m, 29.ix.–15.xi.1981, Nielsen & Karsholt, genitalia slide nos. RA 365♂, RA 367♂, RA 368♂, RA 375♂, RA 376♂, RA 572♂ ( ZMUC) ; 1 ♂, Santa Cruz, Lago Argentino, Peníns Magallanes , elevation ca. 250 m, 11.i.1979, Mision Cientifica Danesa, genitalia slide no. RA 354♂ ( ZMUC) .

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin digitatae (digitate) in reference to the digitate group of four cornuti in the phallus.